Welcome to Meteorite Central & The Meteorite Mailing List Archives

Meteorite Central hosts the archives of the Meteorite Mailing List, which served the meteorite community for many years as a hub for sharing information about meteorites, collecting, and hunting. At its peak, the List had over 1800 members. While the List is no longer active, these archives remain available as a resource for enthusiasts and researchers. You can read about the history of the list here.

The List Archives is a great place to learn about meteorites. The current archive has over 25 years of posts!

What is a meteorite?

A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from space that has survived the journey through Earth's atmosphere and landed on the Earth's surface. Meteorites are typically composed of rock or metal, and can range in size from small pebbles to huge boulders.
When a meteorite enters Earth's atmosphere, it heats up due to friction with the air and often appears as a bright streak of light in the sky, known as a meteor or shooting star. If the meteorite is large enough, it may also produce a sonic boom as it travels through the atmosphere.

Once a meteorite reaches the Earth's surface, it can leave a crater and may be found as a blackened or charred object, depending on its composition and the conditions of its entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Some meteorites may also contain small, spherical structures known as chondrules, which are thought to have formed in the early Solar System.

Meteorites are important scientific objects, as they provide insights into the composition and history of the Solar System. They can also contain clues to the formation and evolution of planets, including the Earth. Many museums and scientific institutions have collections of meteorites, and they are often studied by scientists and enthusiasts alike.

What is a mailing list?

A mailing list is a collection of email addresses that are used to send messages or information to a group of people. The purpose of a mailing list is to facilitate communication among members of a community or organization, and to keep them informed about news, events, or updates related to a particular topic.

Mailing lists can be either moderated or unmoderated. In a moderated list, the messages are reviewed and approved by a list owner or moderator before they are sent out to the entire group. This ensures that the messages are relevant and appropriate for the audience. In an unmoderated list, any member of the list can send messages to the entire group without prior approval.

Mailing lists can be set up using a variety of email software and services, including popular platforms like Google Groups, Mailchimp, and Constant Contact. Members of the list can subscribe or unsubscribe at any time, and they can choose to receive messages in real-time or in a digest format.